Berkshire Bank Announces $9,600 Grant to Soldier On

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank announced that its foundation, in partnership with New England Sports Network (NESN), has awarded a $9,600 grant to Soldier On through the Berkshire Bank Exciting Assists Grant program. Soldier On CFO Bruce Buckley accepted the contribution from Gary Levante, Berkshire Bank’s assistant vice president of Community Engagement, during NESN’s coverage of the Boston Bruins game on Dec. 8.

The Exciting Assists Grant program runs through April 1, 2017 and raises funds to support three charitable causes. Berkshire Bank’s foundation provides $100 per Bruins assist to the program. During the first portion of the season, Boston had 96 assists, resulting in the $9,600 grant from Berkshire Bank Foundation.

Soldier On, the first nonprofit beneficiary of the Exciting Assists Grant program, has a single mission: ending homelessness among the nation’s veterans. Since 1994, it has provided homeless veterans with transitional housing and supportive services including the first Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community in 2010, a permanent housing cooperative that provides formerly homeless veterans with safe, sustainable, affordable housing, transitioning them from homelessness to home ownership. Soldier On is replicating this model nationally.

In addition to Soldier On, two other nonprofit organizations will receive funding during the remainder of the season: Birthday Wishes, which provides children facing homelessness with a joyous birthday party that will brighten their special day, reduce the trauma of homelessness, and give them hope for a better future (promotion period: Dec. 8 to Feb. 3); and Cradles to Crayons, which provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive at home, at school, and at play, free of charge, by engaging and connecting communities that have communities in need (promotion Period: Feb. 4 to March 31).